1 Opening Day

Boating season officially begins with a traditional day of races and festivities on Seattle’s beautiful Montlake Cut on Saturday. It all takes place come rain or shine — this is the Northwest, after all.

2 Free Comic Book Day

Perhaps it’s fitting that this annual giveaway takes place the same day “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ kicks off the summer blockbuster season. Several local stores participate. Drop in, browse the shelves and walk out with a free sample of the shops’ choosing.

3 Movies

If you’re looking for something a little less predictable, try “Only Lovers Left Alive” — a vampire love story starring Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston (that is, no, nothing like “Twilight,” according to Moira).

4 Cinerama's Sci Fi Film Festival

“Open the pod bay doors, HAL” — and step into the otherworldly wonder of some of the greatest sci-fi stories ever told on screen. See restored prints of classics, such as “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Alien,” “Fahrenheit 451″ and more. For details, consult Tom Keogh’s preview.

The Seattle area is home to a vibrant arts scene — there's always something going on in theaters, concert halls, galleries, museums. How to keep up? ArtsPage will showcase work by some of The Seattle Times' expert fine-arts writers, to help you navigate local art offerings. We'll include news, observations, images, humor, links and ways for you to join the conversation, too. Email the editors